On Day of DUI Arrest, Somerville Told By Agents His Services Were Not Wanted; KTVU Newsroom Pulse: Quiet Resignation But Still Angry; Mike Mibach Odds-on Favorite To Get 10 PM Gig

ON THE DAY he was DRINKING at a few Uptown/Oakland bars--one, directly across the street from his condo--Frank Somerville was told by every agent possible that he'd fail at attracting a new gig, even outside the Bay Area market and at least one outlet, in Sacramento, told him his they weren't interested in his services.

Later that night, Somerville was arrested on a suspicion of DUI after hitting several cars and ramming one on Grand Ave and Broadway.

At KTVU, where Somerville used to work, the pulse of the newsroom, from a well-placed source is that of remarkable quiet. "Nobody is really talking about it --sure, a lot of people are shocked, but a lot of people are angry and they want to move on," said the source.

Somerville is OUT THE DOOR at Fox2. Nothing is official. After his co-worker anchors stopped saying, "in for Frank tonight", they were instructed to say that disclaimer again last night (Monday) out of legal reasons but make no mistake, Somerville is a GONER, only the method on how Fox lowers the boom is a mystery.

*The Somerville-replacement tour has seen a series of fill-ins at KTVU try to get the prime time gig--it seems that Mike Mibach is the chosen one as long as Mibach wants the job and yes, he desperately wants the job. Mibach has beaten out Andre Senior who was considered not big enough to get the spot but nothing is official yet.

It's hoped that Mike will be happy to land 10 PM, so much so that he will refrain from screaming in his car after completimg newscasts.

*The people at KTVU who work behind the scenes know the majority of them, I RESPECT and admire for being able to work in a challenging environment; the majority who are UPSET and can't wait to leave once their day is over because while they are fed up with Somerville, they CANNOT STAND the ND, Amber Eikel. Two things can be mutually exclusive.

*If you believe the latest rumors, yeah even Fox has had it with Eikel and her days are numbered.

*Had the same incident that involved Somerville were that of another star Bay Area anchor, you'd have bet and you'd have won KTVU would have reported the story and they'd have been right to. By NOT even mentioning the Somerville DUI arrest should tell you what kind of news operation is KTVU today. Fred Zehnder would be PISSED.

*Yeah, the same Zehder killed by a DUI driver.